Hello everyone, I once mentioned that I would try to do a post about books, tv shows or films, podcasts and for Zurich folk, bars, restaurants, cafes or other places that I liked. So this is the first one:
Now, you all know, I think that I like to read and each month I read a non–fiction book. So the first recommendations are 4 non–fiction books I read through this year so far.
Books - The Five - The Untold Lives of the Women Killed By Jack The Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold - this was a fascinating read about the lives of these five women Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapmen, Elizabeth Chapmen, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly. The author really researched lots of information to find out who these women were, who their parents were, what was their up-bringing like, did they get married and have children and how did they end up murdered by Jack the Ripper. As I said there is lots of information which makes it a book that you read slowly and in fact I read it over 3 weeks. There is next to nothing about these women, as the most books are about the murderer himself. I think it is good to focus on these women and their lives.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn - Ray and her husband Moth decide to walk the 630 South West Coast Path, only after they lost their home and business in a bad investment and Moth was diagnosed with a terminal illness. It was a moving account about how they decided to do this walk and how they sold all their stuff to fund it. I liked hearing about the people they met on the walk and how they coped with the weather from cold to really hot. There is a second book now called The Wild Silence which I have but won't get to it until next year I think.
Motherwell: A Girlhood by Deborah Orr - A memoir by the late journalist on her upbringing, parents, friends, the city where she lived Motherwell and the social history of the time. I wasn't´t sure what to expect as I bought it on a wim, but I was moved by her writing and had not realised that she had died not so long ago. I might have been attracted to this book as it was set in Scotland even though I have never been to Motherwell. But I also enjoyed the history she told about Motherwell and the steel industry, as growing up even I knew about Ravenscraig steelworks.
She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey - these are the two journalists who work for the New York Times that broke the Harvery Weinstein scandal in Oct 2017. This was a wild read from beginning to end and it was gripping. I have read a few reviews that mentioned it was like a fiction book. We learn how the journalists got some of the most famous actresses to go on the record and how they got in touch with some of the ex-employees to ask for their stories. The horrible fact that there were so many women to have suffered by him and that it went on for decades.
TV Shows - I have chosen to mention A Discovery of Witches, which is based on the trilogy called All Souls by Deborah Harkness. It tells of Diana Bishop who is a historian and a witch but she doesn't want to use her witch powers. While in the Bodleian library she discovers a bewitched manuscript. She tries to unravel the secrets but is drawn into the world of creatures witches, vampires and demons. I have read all three books and I really enjoyed this tv adaption. The next series will be out in January on Sky, which I don't have sadly.
Podcasts - well I have fairly new to the world of podcast but there are a few I listen to and one of them is Anna Farris Unqualified. Anna Farris is an American actress and now also a podcaster. I have listened to her speaking to a number of people such as Samantha Erby, Busy Philips, Sophia Bush to name a few. Also towards the end of the show, people call in with some sort of problem eg relationship and Anna and her guest try to give some advice to the person. It can be quite a laugh.
Restaurant - Helvti Diner - this place is one of Alessio´s favourites, is stands on a corner just before you get to the tram station Stauffacher. Sorry the photos not that good. Alessio likes the burgers as you can choose what to put on it. I had a chicken Caesar salad which is pictured and it was really good. It also does hot dogs, plus desserts and milkshakes. The address is Helvti Diner, Kasernenstr 2,8004 Zürich.
